Sham's Design Space: Cultures of Prague

Customs & Tradition

derived from the influence of the bohemian culture ( practice and unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like minded people, involving musical, artistic and literary pursuits)
very vibrant and colourful (full of life)
each season or rather each month has something in store

Celebration & Festival

The Day of Recovery of the Independent Czech State_January 1.
Every year this is celebrated together with New Year's Day. People recall the establishment of the independent Czech Republic and the separation of Czechoslovakia at the turn of 1992 and 1993.

Hromnice _February 2.

The day of Hromnice (pronounced HROM-nyi-tseh) is a significant day for the Czechs owing to its weather-related folklore. It approximately marks the middle of winter and is linked to dozens of weather-related proverbs and predictions. According to the Czech, the weather on Hromnice is an indication of how long the winter will linger.

Liberation Day_May 8.

Annually, people celebrate this day in memory of May 8, 1945, when Czechoslovakia, until that time occupied by Germany, was set free by American and Russian military units. Thus, finished one of the worst and most destructive modern wars in the history of Europe.

The Day of Slavonic Apostles Cyril and Methodius _July 5.
This day celebrates the coming of Slavonic Apostles Cyril and Methodius, who brought Christianity to the territory of today´s Czech Republic in about the year 863, and some other foundations of European culture, for example, a new type of writing.

Jan Hus Day _July 6.
This day marks one sad moment in Czech history. In 1415, Jan Hus, a Czech religious thinker, philosopher and reformer of the Catholic Church and a priest, was burned for his ideas in the Constance.

Day of Czech Statehood _September 28.
It is one related to the tradition of Christianity and the tradition of Saint Wenceslas. On that day, Saint Wenceslas, the monarch and future patron of the Bohemian nation, was murdered by his brother Boleslav in Stará Boleslav. Every year there is a Saint Wenceslas pilgrimage organized at this place, and at Prague Castle the president awards Saint Wenceslas medals to individuals who contributed to the Czech statehood.

The Day of Establishment of the Independent Czechoslovak Republic_October 28.
On this day each year, the president of the republic, together with eminent state officers, places bunches of flowers on the grave of the first president and the leader of foreign revolt at the time of World War I, Tomáš G. Masaryk, at the castle in Lány, and also at the monument in Vítkov. In the evening of this day, the president honors eminent personalities of cultural and social life.

Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day_November 17.
On this day in 1939, a student demonstration against the Nazi occupation was organized, during which a student, Jan Opletal, was shot. Right after that, universities were closed and Nazis persecuted and executed more students. In 1989, a students' reminder of this incident was permitted by the communist authorities and this event turned into an open anti-communist demonstration on the National Avenue in Prague. This was strictly suppressed by police, but marked the beginning of the Czech Republic .

The Burning of the Witches_April 30.
The Burning of the Witches” is a weird Czech practice that bids a final farewell to winter and can still be witnessed in many villages across the country. As a part of the custom, Czechs get together on the evening of April 30 to build a bonfire and prepare an effigy of the witch that kept winter around so long.

St. Joseph's Day
The Czech St. Joseph's Day is a more restrained adaptation of the Irish St. Patrick's Day and is celebrated around the same time in March every year. In fact, Josef is among the most common of Czech names and generates annual celebrations around the nation.

Easter
Easter in Prague is a time of enjoyment. Different villages and regions in the country have their own varied Easter customs and traditions. The main Easter holiday in Prague is the Easter Monday. Boys and men visit their friends in the morning and carry pomlazkas with them. Pomlazkas are braided willow sticks with colored ribbons tied at the ends. They chase and lightly whip the females wherever they visit. In return the boys get colored eggs from girls and women. The custom was meant to assure fertility.

The Day of Love_May 1.
In the Czech Republic, this day is devoted to lovers and the Czech romantic ‘poet of love’ Karel Hynek Mácha. On this day, couples get together at the statue of Karel Hynek in Prague's Petřín Park where they lay flowers and spend a few moments. The park is predominantly a romantic place in May when its cherry trees are in bloom.

St. Nicholas Tradition _December 5
The eve of St. Nicholas is especially fun-filled in Prague. On this day, parents bring their children to the Old Town Square where one can see the tradition in full swing roughly between 5 pm and 8 pm. Children also receive St. Nicholas presents from their parents and relatives. Gifts like sweets and chocolates can be put into a stocking and hidden somewhere in the child's room.

Christmas_December 24.
For most Czechs, December 24 (Štědrý den) is the most pleasurable day of Christmas holidays. Its Czech name literally means "Generous Day", probably for the wealth of food that has traditionally been served for Christmas dinner.

Local Food and Cuisine

Dumpling
It mostly consists of pork or beef meat with sauce and a side dish, the most common and liked being dumplings. Dumplings (“knedliky”) are the Czech traditional side dish made from wheat or potato flour, boiled in water as a roll and then sliced and served hot.

Soup
The most appreciated Czech soupsare onion and garlic soup , but the speciality for Christmas is the fish soup, made out of Carp, the Czech traditional Christmas delicacy. Also very tasty is Goulash Soup, a spicy thick (creamy) soup, served with brown bread.